CBC anchorman Peter Mansbridge scored an interview with Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert this morning.
According to an Associated Press report carried on the Ha’aretz website, Olmert told Mansbridge he was open to the idea of releasing Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, but said the Palestinians’ current demands are too high. Olmert also said Israel is ready to talk directly with Saudi Arabia over its 2002 peace initiative, and called on the Saudis to lead the fight against Arab extremism and Islamic radicalism.
"The time has come for the moderate forces in the Arab world to make a statement of courage and of leadership that will send a message across the Middle East that the days of the extremists are over, and the Saudis can play a major vital role in this direction," Olmert said.
The interview, originally slated for tonight’s "The National" news program, may be postponed due to the Virginia campus shootings. Read more about the interview here. In March 2006, Mansbridge traveled to Jerusalem to cover the Israeli elections.
